A year and a half after his last stakes start, Ashleyluvssugar broke through for his first graded stakes win in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes March 21 at Santa Anita Park.
In the process, the 4-year-old gelding by Game Plan outkicked one of the hottest horses on the West Coast, besting four-time graded stakes winner and heavy favorite Finnegans Wake by 2-1/4 lengths.
Ashleyluvssugar sat well behind in fifth place, with Finnegans Wake in sixth -- nine and 11 lengths back, respectively -- as Joes Blazing Aaron and jockey Joe Talamo opened up blistering fractions for a the 1-1/2-mile turf race. Joes Blazing Aaron, with Diamond Bachelor just behind, ran the opening quarter-mile in :23.43 seconds, half in :45.66 seconds and six furlongs in 1:10.29.
Second-choice Power Foot got first run at the leaders and took a head lead at the quarter pole before fading to the two closers. He stayed to finish third, 5-1/2 lengths behind Finnegans Wake. Ashleyluvssugar -- a California-bred owned by breeders Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia -- was between the two rivals in the stretch, but pulled away under the urging of first-time jockey Gary Stevens.
Stevens said he knew he had a chance when the gelding out of Urgent Request mare Ashley's Folly didn't rush up to chase the sizzling early pace.
"He relaxed like a dream for me," Stevens said. "I knew if he would relax, we'd have a good chance. I was loaded going into the turn, a horse came to our outside [and] he got headed, but he's tough. He likes a fight."
Off at 3-5 odds, Finnegans Wake put a head in front of the eventual winner in the stretch, but Ashleyluvssugar fought back and completed the distance in 2:25.78 on a turf course rated firm.
"The question was just whether he'd just be too keen early," Ashleyluvssugar's trainer, Peter Eurton said. "[Previous jockey] Mike [Smith] said, 'Put them to sleep.' It was just an amazing ride."
By Powerscourt, Finnegans Wake entered the race coming off three straight Southern California Grade 2 grass victories in the Hollywood Turf Club Stakes, San Gabriel Stakes, and San Marcos Stakes.
"I didn't really think we had it -- not today," Finnegans Wake's jockey, Victor Espinoza, said. "He was a little bit flat today -- all the way -- as soon as he came out of the gate. He was a little lazy, not really running. He was empty all the way. I was surprised he ran a good race still."
Ashleyluvssugar paid $13.20, $4.80, and $3 across the board. Finnegans Wake returned $2.40 and $2.10. Power Foot delivered $2.80 to show.
The gelding, who had three allowance/optional claiming victories and a maiden score entering the San Luis Rey, improved his lifetime record to 5-0-2 from 10 starts and pushed his earnings to $335,504 with his first stakes win.
Play Hard to Get was 5-1/2 lengths behind Power Foot in fourth place, followed by Buymeabond, Raise Your Gaze, Diamond Bachelor, and Joes Blazing Aaron to complete the order of finish.